Leaving Paradise

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More About This Book

Overview

Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad—her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares—has been canceled.

After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb’s free . . . if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers.

Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It’s a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up
Caleb and Maggie exhibit enough pain and anger to wreak havoc on their families and community, named, ironically, Paradise. Both missed their junior year of high school; Maggie, recovering from a car accident, and Caleb, jailed for hitting her while driving drunk. Now it's September and the beginning of their senior year. Each teen tries to slip back into old patterns that no longer fit. Classmates mock Maggie's awkward gait while anger and violence swirl around Caleb when he confronts his fellow students. Maggie's fury toward him turns her into a loner. And although Caleb spent a year in prison, he knows he will never be forgiven. Circumstances force them to work together and, under the benevolent eye of an elderly widow, they fall in love. Elkeles writes convincingly about family tensions, retreating from painful reality, and teens outgrowing their old skins. The plot has some twists and reversals that keep the story interesting, but doses of pop psychology are unnecessarily interjected. In keeping the story realistic, Elkeles doesn't tie up loose ends, but permits the characters to work through complicated emotions. Mild cursing and some sexual scenes make this book most suitable for high school readers.
—Lillian HeckerCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780738710181
  • Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
  • Publication date: 4/1/2007
  • Pages: 312
  • Sales rank: 37,471
  • Age range: 12 years
  • Lexile: 680L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.20 (w) x 7.90 (h) x 0.90 (d)

Meet the Author

Simone Elkeles
Simone Elkeles
SIMONE ELKELES has written three young adult novels, including Leaving Paradise, a Book Sense Pick. Simone was recently named Illinois Author of the Year by the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. She lives in Illinois, with her family. www.simoneelkeles.net

Read an Excerpt

one

Caleb

I've been waiting a year for this moment. It's not every day you get a chance to get out of jail. Sure, in the game of Monopoly you just have to roll the dice three times and wait for a double, or pay the fine and be free. But there are no games here at the Illinois Department of Corrections- Juvenile complex; or the DOC as we inmates call it.

Oh, it's not as rough as it sounds. The all male juve­nile division is tough, but it's not like the adult DOC. You might ask why I've been locked up for the past year. I was convicted of hitting a girl with my car while driving drunk. It was a hit-and-run accident, too, which actually made the judge in my case royally pissed off. He tacked on an extra three months for that.

"You ready, Caleb?" Jerry, the cell guard, asks.

"Yes, sir." I've been waiting three hundred and ten days for this. Hell, yeah, I'm ready.

I take a deep breath and follow Jerry to the room where the review committee will evaluate me. I've been prepped by the other guys in my cell block. Sit up straight, look full of remorse, act polite, and all that stuff. But, to tell you the truth, how much can you trust guys who haven't gotten out themselves?

As Jerry opens the door to the evaluation room, my muscles start to twitch and I'm getting all sweaty beneath my state-issued coveralls, state-issued socks, and yep, even my state-issued briefs. Maybe I'm not so ready for this after all.

"Please sit down, Caleb," orders a woman wearing glasses and a stern look on her face.

I swear the scene is out of a bad movie. Seven people sitting behind six-foot-long tables in front of one lone metal chair.

I sit on the cold, hard metal.

"As you know, we're here to evaluate your ability to leave here and begin your life as a free citizen."

"Yes, ma'am," I say. "I'm ready to leave."

A big guy, who I can tell is going to play "bad cop," puts his hand up. "Whoa, slow down. We have a few ques­tions to ask before we make our decision."

Oh, man. "Sorry."

Big Guy checks my file, flipping page after page. "Tell me about the night of the accident."

_

The one night in my life I want to erase from history. Taking a deep breath, I say, "I was drinking at a party. I drove home, but lost control of the car. When I realized I hit someone, I freaked and drove back to the party."

"You knew the girl you hit?"

Memories assault me. "Yes, sir. Maggie Armstrong . . . my neighbor." I don't add she was my twin sister's best friend.

"And you didn't get out of the car to see if your neigh­bor was hurt?"

I shift in my chair. "I guess I wasn't thinking straight."

"You guess?" another committee member asks.

"If I could turn back time, I swear I would. I'd change everything."

They question me for another half hour and I spurt out answers. Why I was drinking while underage, why I'd get into a car drunk, why I left the scene of the accident. I don't know if I'm saying the wrong thing or right thing, which puts me on edge. I'm just being me . . . seventeen-year-old Caleb Becker. If they believe me, I stand a chance of getting released early. If they don't . . . well, I'll be eating crappy food for another six months and continue rooming with convicts.

Big Guy looks right at me. "How do we know you won't go on another drinking binge?"

I sit up straight in my chair and direct my attention to each and every one of the committee members. "No offense, but I never want to come back here again. I made a huge mistake, one that's haunted me day and night since I've been here. Just . . . let me go home." For the first time in my life, I'm tempted to grovel.

Instead, I sit back and wait for another question.

"Caleb, please wait outside while we make our deci­sion," the woman with the glasses says.

And it's over. Just like that.

I wait out in the hall. I'm usually not a guy who breaks under pressure, and the past year in jail has definitely given me an invisible piece of armor I wear around me. But waiting for a group of strangers to decide your fate is majorly nerve-wracking. I wipe beads of perspiration off my forehead.

"Don't worry," guard Jerry says. "If you didn't win them over, you might get another chance in a few months."

"Great," I mumble back, not consoled in the least.

Jerry chuckles, the shiny silver handcuffs hanging off his belt clinking with each movement. The dude likes his job too much.

We wait a half hour for someone to come out of the room and give me a sign of what's next. Freedom or more jail time?

I'm tired of being locked in my cell at night.

I'm tired of sleeping on a bunk bed with springs push­ing into my back.

And I'm tired of being watched twenty-four hours a day by guards, personnel, cameras, and other inmates.

The lady with the glasses opens the door. "Caleb, we're ready for you."

She isn't smiling. Is that a bad sign? I'm bracing myself

_

for bad news. I stand up and Jerry pats me on the back. A pity pat? Does he know something I don't? The suspense is freaking me out.

I sit back on the metal chair. All eyes are on me. Big Guy folds his hands on the table and says, "We all agree that your actions last year concerning the accident were repre­hensible."

I know that. I really know that.

"But we believe that was an isolated incident never to be repeated. You've demonstrated positive leadership qualities with other inmates and worked hard on your jobs here. The review committee has decided to release you and have you finish out your sentence with one hundred and fifty hours of community service."

Does that mean what I think it means? "Release? As in I can leave here?" I ask the Big Guy.

"You'll be meeting with your transition coach tomor­row morning. He'll arrange your community service duties and report your progress to us."

Another member of the committee points a manicured finger at me. "If you screw up, your transition counselor can petition the judge to bring you back here to serve out the rest of your sentence. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"We don't give breaks to repeaters. Go back home, be a model citizen, finish your community service require­ments, and have a good, clean life."

I get it. "I will," I say.

When I get back to my cell, the only one here is the new kid. He's twelve and still cries all the time. Maybe he should've thought twice before he buried a knife into the back of the girl who refused to go to the school dance with him.

"You ever gonna stop crying?" I ask the kid.

He's got his face in his pillow; I don't think he hears me. But then I hear a muffled, "I hate this place. I want to go home."

I change into my work boots because I get the pleasure of having to clean the dumpsters today. "Yeah, me too," I say. "But you're stuck here so you might as well suck it up and get with the program."

The kid sits up, sniffles, and wipes his nose with the back of his hand. "How long have you been here?"

"Almost a year."

That sets the kid plunging back into his pillow for more wailing. "I don't want to be locked up for a year," he cries.

Julio, another cell mate, walks into the room. "Seri­ously, Caleb, if that kid doesn't shut up, I'm gonna kill him. I haven't slept for three nights because of that cry­baby."

The wails stop, but then the sniffles start. Which are actually worse than the wailing.

"Julio, give the kid a break," I say.

"You're too soft, Caleb. Gotta toughen these kids up."

"So they can be like you? No offense, man, but you'd scare a serial killer," I say.

_

One look at Julio and you know he's a tough guy. Tat­toos all over his neck, back, and arms. Shaved head. When my mom comes for visits, she acts like his tattoos are con­tagious.

"So?" Julio says. "They gonna let you outta here?"
I sit on my bed. "Yeah. Tomorrow."
"Lucky sonofabitch. You goin' back to that small town

with a funny name? Wha's it called again?" "Paradise." "So I'll be stuck here alone with crybaby while you're

in Paradise? Ain't that a bitch." He gives the kid a wide-

eyed stare. If I didn't know Julio better, I'd be afraid, too. This sets the kid off again. Julio chuckles, then says "Well, I'll give you the num­

ber to my cousin Rio in Chicago. If you need to hightail it

out of Paradise, Rio will hook you up." "Thanks, man," I say. Julio shakes his head at the crying kid, says "Later,

amigo," and leaves the open cell. I tap the kid on his shoulder. He jerks away, scared. "I'm not gonna hurt you," I tell him. He turns to me. "That's what they all say. I heard about

what goes on in jails." He scoots his butt towards the wall. "Don't flatter yourself, kid. You're not my type. I like

chicks." "What about the guy with the tattoos?" I fight the urge to laugh. "He's hetero, too. Dude, you're

in a juvenile facility."

"He said he'll kill me."

"He says that because he likes you," I assure him. Julio has a sick sense of humor. "Now get off the bed, stop the crying, and go to group."

Group is group therapy. Where all the inmates sit around and discuss personal shit about their lives.

Tomorrow I'm getting the hell out of this place. No more group. No more cellmates. No more crappy food. No more cleaning dumpsters.

Tomorrow I'm going home.

Customer Reviews
Average Rating 4.5
( 327 )

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  • Posted June 7, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Leaving Paradise left me breathless!!

    When I started reading this book, I was imediatly absorbed. Both Caleb and Maggie have a strong personality, which is that much more interesting to read about them,... the only thing that I could have wished were different is the ending!!! Thank goodness there will be a sequel, I would have clawed my own eyes out if there wasn't one, ha ha!!

    5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 23, 2009

    A Night That Changed Everything

    Leaving Paradise is a touching story about a girl and boy brought together by a terrible accident that changed each others lives forever. It is a book that teens and even young adults can relate to. It shows forgiveness, relationships, stereotypes and how teens are harassed by their peers. It is not like your typical fairy tale story, where there is a happy ending or where you know what's going to happen next. There's a surprising twist that pulls you in until you're on the last page. Leaving paradise is an exceptionally easy read, alternating between the two characters, telling their sides of the story. It goes into depth about how their feeling and how there reacting to coming back from the accident that happened a year ago. Throughout the book it shows their weaknesses but how they eventually over come it together. The major message was saying how even though a situation may seem hard to cope with, it will get better throughout time, especially with people to support you in your worse moments and not to let anyone make you think nothing is not worth trying for. I like the ending and how it wasn't expected throughout the book, yet it was a bit dramatic. I think it could've been ended better since that was the only unreal part that wasn't likely to happen, but it was still a great book. I also liked how the author included every day situations throughout the whole story. It showed how the author knew what teenagers go through in life and how hard it can be to cope with, but he made this a very easy book to connect with, knowing that he knew what teens go through and not everything is a picture perfect moment. The girl, Maggie was a character any girl can relate with as she goes through the same problems of divorce and relationships as a teenage girl would in reality. I think it teens who like a good story that connects with the reader would really enjoy this book for its setting and plot and the depth the author gives the characters.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 18, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    LOVE IT

    "Are you following me?" she asks, but doesn't meet my gaze.
    "Yeah," I say.
    "Why?"
    I give her the only honest and true answer I have.
    "You're where I want to be."

    I read this book awhile ago, but am just now deciding to come back and write a review, because this book is way too good for me not to share my unconditional love for it with everyone.

    This book has alternating POV between Maggie and Caleb, Maggie use to have a lot of fiends, and was a star tennis player..but that was all before Caleb Becker her neighbor and best friends brother hit her with his car drunk one night..and left her there..now Maggie can't play tennis, and she limps where ever she goes, people stare and make fun of her, and her and her best friend don't even talk, everyday is a struggle for her and all she wishes is for it to be the end of the year so she can leave the small town of Paradise. Caleb a year later after hitting Maggie is getting out of juvie, he knows his home life will never be the same, but he hopes everyone can forgive and forget. As more and more secrets from that night are revealed Maggie and Caleb find comfort in something they never thought they would: each other.

    This book will hold you from the first page, till the very last. It will leave you feeling all warm inside and in shock of how beautiful and amazing the story you just read was. After reading Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles I could never have imagined her writing a better book because it was so good...and then came Leaving Paradise. Simone out did herself here, this book was even better then Perfect Chemistry, and if you've seen my review for Perfect Chemistry you will know that I freakin loved that book.

    This book had wonderful characters, perfect insight into both Maggie and Caleb's thoughts, one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read, and great character development was perfect. I could make this review probably a million pages long talking about why I loved it so much, but I'm just going to leave it at this: If you haven't read this book, get up and go read it, then come back and tell me how much you loved it. You wont regret it and that's a promise.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 5, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Leaving Paradise

    This story is mesmerizing. The minute I picked it up I could not put it down. The emotion you can feel in this story is incredibly real. I have recommended this book to many people and the only complaint they had was that the book had ended in the middle of the story. All of them cannot wait until the sequel comes out. Leaving Paradise was beautifully written, and I cannot find any faults with it.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted April 19, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    One of the best books I've ever read!

    The headline says it all one of the hands down best books I've ever read. You're immediately engaged with the beginning of the story, you're intrigued in trying to solve the mystery of what happened the night that Maggie Armstrong was run over, and how bad boy Caleb did or didn't have something to do with it. This story pulls you in and doesn't let you out, it's so enticing. Can't wait for the sequel to see exactly where Maggie and Caleb end up. They're two of my all time favorite characters.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 13, 2009

    Love This so Much!!!

    wow, this book, was really amazing!! I got hooked to it the moment I read the first couple of pages about Caleb.. I just can't believe the ending!! I got really mad! And of course I cried too! I can't wait for the sequel to come out!! Cant wait! :)

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 10, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    AMAZING

    I seriously could not stop thinking about this book. It is a great story that made me cry and smile. I loved it and enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book because it is simply amazing :)

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 25, 2009

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Doesn't have a happy ending, but....

    It is still a really good book! It's your classic love story, with a twist. I started reading and finished this book in one day. And looking at Simone Elkeles webpage it looks like she is coming out with a sequel soon! So maybe there will be a happy ending after all :D

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 6, 2012

    Anonymous

    When I started reading this book I fell in love instantly. This book has drama, cliffhangers and you wont be able to put it down. It has become one of my favorites and I just could not put it down. The story of Maggie and Caleb is just so interesting and breath-taking. Its just a book about a guy named Caleb who had it all before he was accused of hiting Maggie Armstrong, the friend of Caleb's twin sister. It tells the story of how he wanted everything to go back to normal before he was convicted. But when everything just has changed so much ever sense he left he feels that he cant handle it. Im gonna stop there cause I dont want to give any other surprises away. To sum everything up "JUST READ THE BOOK". It will become one of your favorites. :) :) :)

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  • Posted February 5, 2012

    AHHH !

    i love this book with all my heart ! left me breathless, & only wanting more. I totally recommend this book, without a doubt ! you will never want to put this book down. I was actually pretty disappointed when the book was coming to an end ! I love it & im pretty sure all teens will love it, just as much as i do !

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 17, 2012

    Country Gal

    This author is amazing!!! I can't wait for more!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 5, 2012

    Leaving Paradise

    I loved it. I couldn't stop reading.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 31, 2011

    Breathtaking

    I didn't really expect a lot of this book even though pretty much every review was positive. I'm here to tell whoever is reading this review that your worries should completeley dissolve whether or not you actually ask yourself 'Will I even like this?'. I have read many books and I have inly come across a handful that has been so good and full of raw, real emotion like this. This book doesn't do a lot of beating around the bush, it is right to the point. The author (Simone Elkeles) develops the characters and plot. This book, everything about it, the setting, the characters, the chemistry, the plot, even sub plots seem real. That is how good the author writes this book. Read this book now, you will not be dissapointed. Astounding.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 31, 2011

    Outstanding!

    Leaving Paradise is a very very good book. It is well written and keeps you wanting to read on. Both Caleb and Maggie are very relatable, and are great main characters that are well developed. It is a very moving story, and touching in the sense that it is something that could actually happen. The ending leaves lots of room for a sequel (which there is, thank goodness!!) I'd highly recommend this book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2011

    I cant wait

    Ive just finish Chain Reaction and im going to start this book soon i just cant wait to read it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 10, 2011

    Lovee it!!!!!!!!"

    Omg best book ever

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 3, 2011

    Horribly written

    I'm sorry. I just could not get past the unnecessary adjectives. I'm not usually one to care about the writing, as long as the story is good, but I just could not get past it. "orders a woman wearing glasses and a stern look on her face" Really? and my personal favorite... "Another member of the committee points a manicured finger at me." Do we really need to know her finger is manicured? Does a teenage boy really notice something like that? Please stop trying. Just write naturally please.

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 30, 2011

    FANTASTIC!!

    I was into this book after the first couple of sentences!! This book tells you that you need to be honest with everyone, including yourself, and not to run away from your fears!! You also can't runaway from your feelings for someone, especially when they care about you to! I couldn't put this book down! I would recomend to all teens to read this!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 28, 2011

    Leaving Paradise :)

    This book is AMAZINGGGG <3 Ijusst started reading it & its goood :)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 2, 2011

    The Boss!

    I LOVED THIS BOOK SOOOO MUCH, I fell inlove with the characters instantly. They're like actual people, dealing with actual problems. Simone Elkeles brings this sense of reality to the book, that all teens can relate too. Boy or Girl. Its the kind of book where you rush your homework just so you can read the book. Its good for those people, who of course, like romance, hurt/comfort genre, and even a little mystery. *Remember this is the 1'st book, "Return to Paradise" is the second book. (I got confused at first,but someone later helped me)

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